Course sub-headings

Course overview

The honours program assumes, and builds on, the content and research methods areas of psychology provided by the three-year undergraduate psychology sequence offered by the School of Psychology at Deakin, and accredited by the Australian Psychological Society (APS); or an equivalent APS-accredited sequence (see below). The Honours program is designed to provide students with the knowledge base and research skills to enable them to undertake a higher degree by research in psychology, to undertake advanced professional training in psychology, or to seek employment in an area of psychology using the skills acquired during a four year degree.

Professional recognition

This course is recognised for registration purposes by the Psychology Board of Australia and is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).

Note: This course is currently accredited as at the date of publishing.

Fees and charges

Equivalent Full Time Student Load (EFTSL)EFTSL is the standard annual full time load. Eight credit points is considered a standard full time load for one year of study. Each unit you study has an EFTSL value. You can add these together to calculate your study load for each year. Depending on enrolment, you may be enrolled in more than or less than the one EFTSL each year.

Commonwealth supported place (CSP) A Commonwealth supported place is one for which the University receives some Government funding. Students enrolled in these places are required to contribute only part of the cost of their course. To be eligible for a Commonwealth supported place you must be an Australian citizen, or a New Zealand citizen or holder of a permanent visa who will be residing in Australia for the duration of your unit/s of study.

* The indicative annual course fee shown has been provided as a guide only. It has been calculated on the basis of a typical enrolment of a student undertaking the course in 2016, and reflects the cost involved in undertaking a full-time quota of units within the specified discipline. The 2016 CSP course fees may change if the Commonwealth Government's proposed fee deregulation and reforms legislation is passed.

The actual fees charged by Deakin University will depend upon the discipline from which each individual unit is chosen, and may vary from the indicative course fee cited, particularly if units are chosen from a number of disciplines. The cost of each unit offered in 2016 can be viewed from the Unit Search.

The fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and service.

Deakin assumes no responsibility for persons relying on "indicative course fees" to calculate the total future cost of their course.

Australian citizens or holders of a permanent humanitarian visa, enrolling in a CSP, may be eligible for HECS-HELP to assist in paying their tuition fees. For more information about HECS-HELP visit the Study Assist website.

Fee-paying student A fee-paying place is one for which the University does not receive any government funding. Students enrolled in these places contribute the full cost of their course.

* The indicative annual course fee shown has been provided as a guide only. It has been calculated on the basis of a typical enrolment of a student undertaking the course in 2016, and reflects the cost involved in undertaking a full-time quota of units within the specified discipline. The 2016 full fee course fees may change if the Commonwealth Government's proposed fee deregulation and reforms legislation is passed.

The actual fees charged by Deakin University will depend upon the discipline from which each individual unit is chosen, and may vary from the indicative course fee cited, particularly if units are chosen from a number of disciplines. The cost of each unit offered in 2016 can be viewed from the Unit Search.

The fees per unit/credit point may increase annually due to rises in the cost of course delivery and service.

Deakin assumes no responsibility for persons relying on "indicative course fees" to calculate the total future cost of their course.

Australian citizens or holders of a permanent humanitarian visa, enrolling in a full fee place, may be eligible for FEE-HELP to assist in paying their tuition fees. For more information about FEE-HELP visit the Study Assist website.

Course rules

Psychology Honours consists of two components: coursework and a thesis. The coursework component (consisting of classes and seminars) contributes 50% to the final grade of Honours awarded. Part-time students must complete the course work component in Year 1 of their course. As required by the accreditation guidelines of the Australian Psychological Society, the course work covers:

counselling, ethical and professional skills

research methods, and

psychological assessment

For further details of the coursework component, see the unit description for HPS425 and HPS426.

The thesis component (see HPS427 and HPS428) contributes 50% to the final grade of honours awarded. The thesis is a write-up (current length approximately 9000 words) of an individual research project based on an original piece of empirical research. A range of types of data (qualitative, quantitative, subjective, objective) and a range of data-collection settings and methodologies can be used as the basis of the thesis component.

The thesis is submitted in two parts: a 4000 word literature review submitted mid-year and a 5000-word report on the empirical component submitted in October. The literature review and empirical report section of the thesis typically contribute 15% and 35% respectively to the final mark for the thesis component. Both sections are marked by two independent markers.

Attendance and presentation at the annual School Honours Conference and attendance at the School Research Colloquia are hurdle requirements.

Course structure

Entry requirements - general

Deakin University offers admission to undergraduate courses through a number of Admission categories.In all categories of admission, selection is based primarily on academic merit as indicated by an applicant's previous academic record.For more information on the Admission Criteria and Selection Policy visit The Guide.

Entry requirements - specific

Applications are invited from graduates holding a degree with an approved three-year sequence in psychology or Deakin University’s Graduate Diploma of Psychological Studies.

Applicants who commenced their psychology major in 2012 or later must have completed an extended major in psychology at Deakin University (or equivalent) which consists of two credit points at level 1, five credit points at level 2 and three credit points at level 3. This extended major must include the level 2 and 3 research methods units offered by the School of Psychology or equivalent. These applicants must have a minimum of a mid-credit (65%) in Research Methods B or equivalent unit, and will be ranked for selection on the basis of their level-2 and level-3 Psychology core units (including Research Methods B).

Applicants who commenced their major prior to 2012 must have completed an extended major in psychology at Deakin University (or equivalent) which consists of a minimum of 10 credit points of psychology (out of the 24 credit points required for an undergraduate degree): two credit points at level 1, four credit points at level 2, and four credit points at level 3. This extended major must include the level 2 and 3 research methods units offered by the School of Psychology or equivalent, and HPS309. These applicants must have a minimum of a mid-credit (65%) in Research Methods B or equivalent unit, and will be ranked for selection on the basis of their best level-3 Psychology units (not including Research Methods B).

There is a quota on places in the Psychology Honours program and meeting the above criteria does not guarantee acceptance into Psychology Honours.

There may be a very small number of places available for non-Deakin students with exceptional academic performance in the equivalent units used to assess Deakin students.

How to apply

Applications must be made directly to the University through the Applicant Portal. Details of available courses and application closing dates can be found on the closing dates webpage. Please note that closing dates may vary for individual courses.

Your course may require further information in support of your application. Please refer to the faculty information website for further details.